I will be traveling alone with my toddler (2 1/2 years old) in a few days. I had to book her her own seat, and I was initially planning to bring my large convertible car seat with me, but I really don't want to have to drag it around the airport. Would a booster seat be suitable? and if so, any recommendations?

I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three children.

Booster seats are not allowed to be used on aircraft. The only reason for boosters is to position the shoulder belt, which airline seats don't have so there is no safety-logic to using one on board.

One factor you have to consider is what you will use at your destination. Even if your child meets the minimum requirements for the booster, it's not safe to have any child under age 4 in one.

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/4211/Car_Seat_Safety:_5-point_Harness_is_Safest.htm

Check out the difference!

http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/maxicosirodi.mpg

Never check a seat as luggage. It could too easily be lost and/or broken in the hold. Scarily, the seat could sustain damage that is not obvious and you'd only find this out if you were (heaven forbid) in an accident. Not worth the risk! Having it on board means it will get to where you're going in good shape.

Since so many parents are using car seats on board, a market for these items has cropped up. You can search Amazon or any travel site for various contraptions. Buyer beware as not all fit all seats. Some allow you to carry the seat on your back, some have wheels, etc. Gogokidz is an expensive product which fits many seats.

My child's seat is 25lbs. and I actually don't have much trouble carting it around the airport. I attach it to a small, foldable metal luggage cart and use an extra bungee cord. Much cheaper and to be honest, my luggage cart can serve other purposes, long after car seats are not in our lives…

I even check the stroller and use the car seat/luggage cart contraption instead. My daughter could ride in it till about 3 1/2 years old. At 2 1/2, your daughter also walks so she doesn't need the stroller "full time". Parents have also taken the stroller to transport the car seat and switched it to their back if their child "needs" the stroller.

There is another option. If you live in the U.S. or Canada, there are some inexpensive, good seats that you could get just for travel, but can also be used in the car. You could then have a lighter car seat that babysitters and grandmas can use.

I'm kind of hesitant to recommend this first one just because of your child's age but if you plan on having more children, and/or can find other uses for it, for about $40-50 you could get a Cosco Scenera.

You can actually buy it lots of places so shop around;

http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Scenera-Convertible-Point-Seat/dp/B000GY5OBA

Two new higher harnessed seats (especially if the seat you have only goes to 40lbs) you may want to check out are the Graco Nautilus;

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/4296/Graco_Nautilus.htm

or the Apex 65;

http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/a/apex_65_review.htm

Just make sure that the *harness* goes to at least 65 lbs and that the seat is FAA approved (will be in harness mode only). Many seats only harness to 40lbs and then convert to a booster. Don't waste your money on this type of seat. Read the details and it will clearly state "harnesses to XXlbs" than you use the car's seatbelt, which makes it a booster.

So there are some options but I fly solo on transatlantics with three kids and don't find the seat that much of a fuss to take. Once it's on the wheels, off we go…

For more information, nine years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

My contact is at the end if you have further questions.

Have a good flight!

powered by Yahoo Answers

I am transitioning my 2 yo into a twin bed using bed rails. What do I do when I travel?